By Matt Lieberman: WBO featherweight champion Robeisy Ramirez (12-1, 7 KOs) defends against #6 Satoshi Shimizu (11-1, 10 KOs) this summer on July 25th on ESPN+ at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.
Robeisy vs. Shimizu will be the chief support bout on the Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue vs. Stephen Fulton card.
The two-time Olympic gold medalist Ramirez recently captured the vacant World Boxing Organization 126-lb title with a twelve-round unanimous decision victory over Isaac Dogboe earlier this month on April 1st in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Robeisy, 29, is looking to unify the featherweight division, but first things first. He has to defend against the 37-year-old Shimizu before he can face the champions at 126 to unify.
“Next stop, Japan! I am happy to announce my quick return to the ring in what will be the first defense of my WBO world championship,” said Robeisy.
“Fighting is what I do best, titles are meant to be defended, and there’s no stopping ‘El Tren!'”
Robeisy has won his last twelve fights since suffering an upset four round split decision loss in his pro debut against Adan Gonzales in August 2019. He has already avenged the defeat, beating Gonzalez by a six round unanimous decision in July in a fight where he came close to scoring a knockout in the final round.
With trainer Ismael Salas’s help, Robeisy is more aggressive than he was when he started his career and looks nothing like the fighter Gonzales beat in his first fight.
Robeisy lacks the size to climb through the weight classes like his 2016 Olympic finals opponent Shakur Stevenson is doing. As such, he’s going to stay at 126 for the time being until he outgrows the weight class.
Robeisy has recent wins over these fine contenders:
- Isaac Dogboe
- Abraham ‘Super’ Nova
- Jose Matias Romero
- Eric Donovan
Satoshi Shimizu is a two-time Olympian who got a late start in the pro game, turning professional in 2016. He competed in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. Captured a bronze medal in the 2012 Olympics.
In 2019, Shimizu suffered the first defeat of his pro career, losing to Joe Noynay by a sixth round knockout. Since then, Shimizu has won his last three fights, albeit against weak opposition.
It makes sense for Robeisy to be defending against Shimizu, given that they’re fighting on the undercard of Japanese superstar Naoya Inoue’s fight with Fulton in Tokyo.
